Latest News

QMI Agency

Oct 26, 2011

, Last Updated: 8:06 PM ET

NHL ticket prices are up 4.8% on average this season and, as usual, Canadian fans pay the most.

It should come as no surprise that a Toronto Maple Leafs ticket is the costliest in the league -- an average non-premium seat is $123.77, according to a report from Team Marketing Report released Wednesday.

But the fledgling Winnipeg Jets are hot on the Leafs' heels, with the second-priciest average ticket in the NHL at $98.27. That's an increase of 125.4% over last season when the team played out of Atlanta.

The average non-premium ticket in the NHL is $57.10 for 2011-12, the report says, while the Fan Cost Index price -- four tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four regular-sized hotdogs, parking, two programs and two adult-sized caps -- is up 5% to $326.45.

The survey doesn't include any premium tickets such as club seats.

The report notes that when Winnipeg previously had the Jets, in 1995-96, the team had the third-cheapest average ticket at $23.82, well under the league average then of $34.79.

This season, Canadian teams take the top six spots in average ticket prices, while the Ottawa Senators come in 15th. Overall, 19 teams increased their prices while three -- the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Anaheim Ducks -- reduced them.

Among other ups and downs:

• The New York Rangers increased prices 13% for their first season at a refurbished Madison Square Garden;

• The Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins raised their tickets by 7.3% to an average of $58.94;

• The Dallas Stars have the cheapest average ticket at $29.95 and the cheapest FCI at $224.78. The Phoenix Coyotes are second-cheapest at $36.15 and $228.61;

• The Detroit Red Wings are the only Original Six team to be under the league average. The Wings' average ticket is up 3% to $53.28 and their FCI is up 2.1% to $306.12;

• Rounding out the top 10 are: The Philadelphia Flyers, $66.89; New York Rangers, $66.20; Pittsburgh Penguins, $63.06; and Minnesota Wild, $62.63.